Obituaries
Obituary for Frank R. Watkins
FRANK R. WATKINS
A STRONG, COMMITTED LIFE
Frank R. Watkins was born, April 17, 1934. He was the youngest of five children born to Mr. Nicholas G. Watkins, Sr. and Mrs. Evelyn Roach Watkins. He was married to Mrs. Geraldine Swift Watkins more than 50 years. They were the parents of two daughters. His wife, parents, and his siblings all preceded him in death.
A man of strong faith, Frank accepted Christ as his personal savior as a child, at New Bethel Baptist Church (Germantown, Tennessee). He later united with Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church (Cordova, Tennessee) and remained a member until his passing. He often encouraged others to pray about a situation and act on it. Frank’s maternal great-grandfather, grandfather, paternal grandfather, father, and paternal uncle were all Masons. Frank was proud to continue this legacy. He remained active and served as an officer as long as his lodge existed.
Frank was soft spoken, but attentive to good instruction. He attended Neshoba School in Germanton where his father was principal and Shelby County Training School (Woodstock) where Mr. R. J. Roddy was principal. He embraced the ideas of both school leaders, his mother, his uncle, and others who shared with him, personally or in collective settings. He taught his children and others the value of wisdom, common sense, commitment to keeping your word, doing a job well, and paying your debts. He was a lender, not a borrower, who remained aware of what was owed to him.
Frank was taught to paint by his father. When he decided this would be his life’s work, he became the mentee of the late Mr. Harry Johnson. He later formed Watkins Painting and Papering Company and operated it as a business until his health began to decline. While Frank was proud of having worked in luxury, as well as modest homes and edifices, he used the negative experiences of his early years of painting to justify encouraging his children and employees to “give a good day’s work for a good day’s pay.” He was honored to have taught others to paint, and was equally pleased to call two of his children, “good painters”. Unlike his siblings, Frank did not enjoy fishing or hunting, but busied himself raising cows and maintaining his family farm when he wasn’t painting.
Frank was a dedicated family man who fostered independent thinking and encouraged responsible behavior in his offspring. God ushered him away from the care of mortal man and into a place of rest from his labors and sickness, on Friday, August, 29, 2014. Left to emulate the principles he adhered to are: three daughters, Jerrie Yvonne Watkins, Dianne Watkins-Jackson, and Allean (Clarence, Sr.) Neal; one son, Barney (Yvonne) Anderson, Sr.; two granddaughters, one he helped raise, Dianna (Dennis) Watkins-Dickerson, and Latrice Anderson Wood; five grandsons, Clarence (Youlanda) Neal, Christopher (Dr. Amy) Neal, Gregory Neal, Barney “BJ” Anderson, Jr., and Christopher M. Anderson; and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his elder cousin, Mrs. Florence Odessa Tate; godchildren, Terra Stigger, Candace Stokes, Paula Morris, and Larry Granderson; two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Romeila Swift and Mrs. Ernestine Swift; several nieces, nephews, and other cousins.
Mr. Frank Watkins passed away on August 29, 2014. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 5, 2014 from 5-7 PM at Harold Ford Funeral Chapel, 1638 Sycamore View Road, Memphis TN 38134. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, September 6, 2014 at 11:00 AM at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, 1234 Mt. Pisgah Rd., Cordova, TN 38018. Arrangements entrusted to Harold Ford Funeral Chapel, 1638 Sycamore View Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38134, Tel. (901) 379-0861
Read More
A STRONG, COMMITTED LIFE
Frank R. Watkins was born, April 17, 1934. He was the youngest of five children born to Mr. Nicholas G. Watkins, Sr. and Mrs. Evelyn Roach Watkins. He was married to Mrs. Geraldine Swift Watkins more than 50 years. They were the parents of two daughters. His wife, parents, and his siblings all preceded him in death.
A man of strong faith, Frank accepted Christ as his personal savior as a child, at New Bethel Baptist Church (Germantown, Tennessee). He later united with Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church (Cordova, Tennessee) and remained a member until his passing. He often encouraged others to pray about a situation and act on it. Frank’s maternal great-grandfather, grandfather, paternal grandfather, father, and paternal uncle were all Masons. Frank was proud to continue this legacy. He remained active and served as an officer as long as his lodge existed.
Frank was soft spoken, but attentive to good instruction. He attended Neshoba School in Germanton where his father was principal and Shelby County Training School (Woodstock) where Mr. R. J. Roddy was principal. He embraced the ideas of both school leaders, his mother, his uncle, and others who shared with him, personally or in collective settings. He taught his children and others the value of wisdom, common sense, commitment to keeping your word, doing a job well, and paying your debts. He was a lender, not a borrower, who remained aware of what was owed to him.
Frank was taught to paint by his father. When he decided this would be his life’s work, he became the mentee of the late Mr. Harry Johnson. He later formed Watkins Painting and Papering Company and operated it as a business until his health began to decline. While Frank was proud of having worked in luxury, as well as modest homes and edifices, he used the negative experiences of his early years of painting to justify encouraging his children and employees to “give a good day’s work for a good day’s pay.” He was honored to have taught others to paint, and was equally pleased to call two of his children, “good painters”. Unlike his siblings, Frank did not enjoy fishing or hunting, but busied himself raising cows and maintaining his family farm when he wasn’t painting.
Frank was a dedicated family man who fostered independent thinking and encouraged responsible behavior in his offspring. God ushered him away from the care of mortal man and into a place of rest from his labors and sickness, on Friday, August, 29, 2014. Left to emulate the principles he adhered to are: three daughters, Jerrie Yvonne Watkins, Dianne Watkins-Jackson, and Allean (Clarence, Sr.) Neal; one son, Barney (Yvonne) Anderson, Sr.; two granddaughters, one he helped raise, Dianna (Dennis) Watkins-Dickerson, and Latrice Anderson Wood; five grandsons, Clarence (Youlanda) Neal, Christopher (Dr. Amy) Neal, Gregory Neal, Barney “BJ” Anderson, Jr., and Christopher M. Anderson; and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his elder cousin, Mrs. Florence Odessa Tate; godchildren, Terra Stigger, Candace Stokes, Paula Morris, and Larry Granderson; two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Romeila Swift and Mrs. Ernestine Swift; several nieces, nephews, and other cousins.
Mr. Frank Watkins passed away on August 29, 2014. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 5, 2014 from 5-7 PM at Harold Ford Funeral Chapel, 1638 Sycamore View Road, Memphis TN 38134. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, September 6, 2014 at 11:00 AM at Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, 1234 Mt. Pisgah Rd., Cordova, TN 38018. Arrangements entrusted to Harold Ford Funeral Chapel, 1638 Sycamore View Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38134, Tel. (901) 379-0861
Previous Events
Visitation
Friday
5
Sep
5:00 PM
- 7:30 PM
Serenity Funeral Home
1638 Sycamore View Road
Memphis, TN 38134
Service
Saturday
6
Sep
11:00 AM
Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church
1234 Mt. Pisgah Road
Cordova, TN 38016
Cemetery Details
Location
Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
1234 Mt. Pisgah Rd.
Cordova, TN 38016
Loading...